Guard attachment for bottle-capping machines.



F. COOPER.

GUARDJTTACHMENT FOR BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED AUG-31. 19H

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEY Patented May?,1918.

F. COOPER.

GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MIGJI. I9I7- Patented May 7,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY lUNT dlhhflftldhi PATENT FEE,

rnnn coornn, orrrooivrrrnnn, ivrrssounr, assroivoia or ONE-HALF ro JOHN coornn,

OF IBLOOMFIELD, MISSOURI. Y

GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR BOT lLE-CAPPING MACHINES.

i ,aeaoas.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED Coornn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, in-the county of Stoddard andState of Missouri, have invented anew and useful Guard Attachment for Bottle-Capping Machines, of which, the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a guard, and more particularly. to the class of guard attachments for bottle capping machines.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character wherein the guard is movable vertically and laterally in the operation of the capping plunger for the crowning of a bottle sothat when the closure cap is applied to said bottle the guard will bein a position to form a barrier or gate to avoid the passage of particles of glass should the bottle be broken in the capping operation of the machine, there by protecting the operatorfrom flying particlcs of glass.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a guard-attachment of this character wherein on the lowering of the crowning head. of the bottle capping machine the guard is automatically shifted to shielding position to avoid injury to the operator from flying of particles of glass should the bottle burst; and when the crowning'plunger is elevated the guard is automatically shifted to one side of the capping machine to enable the operator thereof to have full access thereto for the placing or setting of .a bottle to be capped in the machine and arranging the cap for application to the bottle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character wherein the parts for operating the same and the support are readily adjustable when the occasion requires in the capping of variou's sizes of bottles in the capping machine.

A, still further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this char acter, wherein the construction thereof is novel in form to enable the attachment to be applied to the bottle capping machine without necessitating any changes in the construction of the latter.

.A still further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this char acter which is extremely simple'in construe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May a, rare.

. lpplication filed August 31, 1917:. Serial No. 189,149. a

same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a-fragmentary front elevation of a bottle capping machine with the guard attachment constructed in accordance With the invention applied, the guard being shown by dotted lines in position to serve as the barrier or gate, and by partly full and dotted lines at one side of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the machine above the attachment,

the guard being in the position to serve as the barrier or gate.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the guard attachment removed from the machine.

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine showing a slight modification of the guard attachment.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring specifically t0 the drawings,

particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, A des ignates generally a bottle capping machine of that type "employed for applying crowns and slmilar closure caps to bottles contalning aerated beverages or other substances, andembodying in its construction a. frame or casing 10, a bottle receiving socket or holder 11, a pair of vertically movable rods 12, a capping plunger 13 carried by and movable with the rods, a portion only of which plunger is shown, and a treadle Cnot shown) forming part of the mechanism for actuating the rods. Rising from the frame or casing 10, at the top thereof on opposite sides of the bottle receiving socket or holder 11 are vertical guide columns 14 for the rods 12, as shown, and carried by one of these columns is the guard attach ment heremafter fully described.

The guard attachment comprises a support which is in the-form ofQa bracket ineluding a substantially L-shaped bar 15, having integral therewith a depending hanger 16 which is formed with a straight vertical leg portion, a horizontal portion and a substantiallyU shaped bearing 1' 7 which-is oitset to the horizontal portion, the latter pivot ear21 through which; is passed a pivot pin? 22, which is also passed through the'bar 15zand the lever 20,"and in'this manner the lever :is r swingingly mounted. Loosely conn'ected' to thezarm 23 of the leverr20 is one end of a link 24 which isloosely connected to the :rocking standard .25 .ot the guard hereinafter *tully described.

The guard comprises 'a' substantially rectangular shaped plate 26, preferably .made from metal riveted or otherwise secured to the standard 'or arm 25, which lies diagonally across the plate at the outer face thereot,tl1e standard or 'arm'being formed with a pintleisleeve 27, through whichis passed a pintle or pivot '28 fiXed .inthe bearing 17 for swingingly eonnectingsaid standard'or arm-thereto. The plate% is tormedwith an inwardly extending flange29co extensivexwith onelong and'one short edge thereof'to serve as a-deflector tofavoid the scattering or flying ofsmall particles of glass when the .plate is :thrownto position to act as a barrier or *gate to the capping machine.

On the upper end of the rod 12 is detachably securedaibracket 30, through an opening of which ,is :passed an actuating rod 31,

which is formed with a crank end 32 pivotally engaged in the arm 83 'of the bell crank deverQO, the :rod '31 being 1 threaded at its upper end which is passed through the bracket 80 and carries the adjustable 'nuts 34, so that in this :manner the throw of the rodican 'be varied for the successful operation-of ithe guard attachment synchronously with the :bottle capping machine.

. -'Gonnected [in any :suitable manner to the base35= of :the frame or casing l0 :isone end of a coiled retractil'e-spring 36, which has its ether end detachably engaged with :a

short link 87 which islloosely connected to the arm 33 of the bell crank lever 20, and this spring 36 tensions the bell crank lever for IlJlIB automatic action of the guard attachment in the operation of the capping machine. a

It Will be apparent that when the plunger 'inthe crowning head.

13 is in elevated position, and the bell crank lever 20 has been thrown under the action of the operating red 31 against the resistance of the tension of the spring 36 to one side of the capping machine A, free access can be had to the parts of the machine for the pur- .pose of setting thebottle to be capped into position and arranging the cap for application thereto. On the lowering of the plungel" 13, the spring 36 becomes active upon the bellcrank leVerQO to move the same to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the draw-. ings, whereupon the 'guard has been shifted to operative position as a barrier or gate for protection between the bottle and the operator standing atone side of the machineto arrest all flying particles of glass if the bottle should burst while being capped, and prevent such particles from comingin contact with and injuring the person or clothing of the operator.

In capping bottles containing highly charged aerated beverages, it frequently happens that the bottle bursts under pressure in the capping operation, with resultant liability of'injury to the operator from the particles of flying glass. By constructing the guard attachment in the manner described when the same is inoperative position as a barrier or gate, it serves to stop all large particles of glass and also prevents any small particles of glass from flying in the direction'of the operatorof themachine.

In Fig. of the drawings, in lieu of mounting the specific form of bracket 30 shown in Fig. 1 upon'the uppercnd of the rod, there is substituted the Form of bracket 37 which isclamped upon the rod '12 at any desired point, so that the length of the rod 38 which correspondsto the rod 31 in Fig. l of the drawings can be materially shortened, and=in this arrangement the guard attachment .will automatically operate with the capping machine which is set for short length bottles, the otherparts of the attachment being constructed identically in the manner I as hereinbetore set forth.

In the operation of a crown bottle capping machine, theoperator must have 'free'aecess to both sides of the machine during the changing (it-bottles, and the placing ot'caps The crowning head afterreceiving the cap is-thenlowered, until the rubber throat gasket comes in contact with theineck ot' the bottle, thus making the connection between the crowning'hcad and the bottleairtight and capable of holdingpressure. As the liquid fills the bottle, the air must be released, this may be done by properly manipulating the left-hand. Usually most operators, however, find it faster work to use the foot "for operatin the foot trieadle '(knownias sniffing by foot; to cause the crowning head to risc up otlof'the bottle, allowing theair to:pa:-ss'out,-and ithereby be released from the bottle. After the bottle has been filled to the desired level, the crowning head is lowered to crimp the cap on the mouth of the bottle, whereupon the crowning head is then moved to its initial raised position by the mechanism within the casing of the machine. As the head approaches theinitial position, the cap for the next operation of the machine, is usually placed in said head. Therefore, a guard to be safe and successful in its work, must not interfere with any of these operations.

When the crowning head is at its uppermost position, the guard is held out of the way, so that there is no inconvenience in the handling of the bottles. As the crowning head is lowered, the'spring 36, connected to the base of the machine A, and to the lever 20, throws the guard 26 over to one side of the bottle holder, through the medium of the lever 20, and the link 24 connecting it to the standard 25, carrying the guard plate 24, the guard being arrested when reaching operative position by the lever 20, contacting with the bar 15 of the bracket. I

The guard attachment has no effect on the machines operation during the fillingand crowning of the bottles.

It will be observed that the guard attachment is operated by the spring 36, which throws the guard into safety position, when permitted to do so by the downward stroke of the crowning head or plunger 13, and this spring is connected with the lever 20, which multiplies the motion of the parts, thus moving the guard through an are approximately 90 degrees, with not over one inch travel of the crowning head or plunger. The guard is Practically independent from the moving parts of the crowning machine after'reaching safety position, because the motion of said guard is stayed by the striking of the lever 20, against the bar 15 of the bracket.

The bracket 30 is not fixedly connected to the rod 31, but slides along the same after the guard reaches safety position, and until such position is reached, the nut 34 rests on the bracket 30. Likewise the bracket 37 a is not permanently fixed to the rod 38, but operates to slide along the rod after the guard reaches safety position, and until this position is reached, the nut on said rod 38 rests against the bracket 37 2 From the foregoing description it will be seen that the invention provided a guard or protector which may be applied to any ordinary type of capping machine, and also at either side of such a machine to protect and prevent injury to the operator, if from any cause, a bottle should burst during the capping operation. I i

It is to be understood that changes, varia tions and modifications may be resorted to, such as come properly within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. In azguard for bottle capping machines, the combination, with the main frame of the machine, the reciprocating capping plunger and the plunger carrying rods, of a bracket detachably fixed to the frame, an arm pivoted for vertically swinging movement in said bracket, a guard carried by said arm and movable thereby infront of the bottle.

eating capping plunger and the plunger.

rods, of a bracket detachably fixed-to the machine, an arm pivoted in said bracket for vertical swinging movement, a guard carried by said arm and movable thereby in front of the bottle holder to constitute a barrier or to inoperative position at one side of the machine, means connected with one of the plunger carrying rods for automaticallyopcrating the arm to bring the guard to bar rier position or to inoperative position on the lowering and ascending of the plunger, said meansincluding tension means for the automatic operation of the guard synchronously with the operation of the machine.

3. In a guard for bottle capping machines,

the combination with the main frame of the machine, the reciprocating capping plunger and the plunger carrying rods, of a support upon the frame, a vertically swinging guard plate movable to operative and inoperative positions, a swinging arm for the guard plate pivoted in the support, a bell crank lever pivoted on the support, a connection between one arm of the lever and the arm for the guard plate, and a connection between one of the plunger carrying rods and the other arm of the lever.

4. In a guard for bottle capping machines, the combination with the main frame of the machine, the reciprocating capping plunger and the plunger carrying rods, of a. support upon the frame, a vertically swinging guard plate movable to operative and inoperative positions, a swinging arm for the guard plate pivoted in the support, a bell crank lever pivoted on the support, a connection between one arm of the lever and the arm for the guard plate, and a coiled retractile spring connected with the base of the machine frame and with said lever.

5. In a guard for bottle capping machines,

lllll the combination with the main frame of the 3 machine, the reciprocating capping plunger and the plunger carrying rods, of a support.

I the combination with a machinehaving a re-.

ciprocating capping plunger, of a vertically swinging guard mounted upon the frame of the machine, said guard embodying a plate, a pivoted swinging arm carrying said plate, a bracket. supporting the arm,"a lever pivoted to the bracket, a bracket fixed to the plunger, a rod engaged in the last named bracket. and connected to the. lever, a link connecting the lever to the arm at. one side of-the axis of movement: of said lever, and resilient means connected to. the lever at the other side of the axis of movement thereof.

7 In a guard for bottle capping machines, the combination with a machine having a reciprocating capping plunger, of a vertical ly swinging guard mounted upon the frame of themachine, said guard embodying a plate, a pivoted swinging arm carryingsaid plate, a bracket supporting the arm, a lever pivoted to the bracket, a bracket fixed to'the plunger, a rod engaged inthe last named bracket and connected to the lever,al in-k connecting the. lever tothe arm at one side of the, axis of movement ofsaid lever, and a coiled i retractile spring con nected to. the lever at. the other side of its axis of movement and also connected to. the frame of the machine.

8. In a guard for bottle capping machines, the. combination with amachine having a reciprocating capping plunger, of a vertically swinging guard mounted upon the frame of the machine, said guard embodying aplate, a pivoted swinging arm carrying said plate, a bracket supporting the arm, a lever pivoted to the bracket, a. bracket fixed to the plunger, a rod engaged in the. last. named bracket and connected to the lever, a link connecting the lever to the arm at one side of the axis of movement of said lever, a coiled retractile spring connected to the lever at the other side of its axis of movement and also connected to the frame of the machine, and a clip detachably connecting the first named bracket to the frame of the machine.

- 9'. The combination with a reciprocating plunger of a bottle capping machine, of a guard pivotally mounted on the machine for movement edgewise, a-bell crank lever connected to the guard, a spring connected to the bell crank lever for moving the guard to operative position in front of the bottle holder in the machine, upon the downward movement of the plunger, and a loose connection between the plunger and bell crank lever for moving the guard to inoperative position at one sideof and beyond the machine upon the ascent of said plunger.

10.- The combination with a reciprocating plunger of a bottle capping machine, of a guard pivotally mounted on the machine for movement edgewise, a spring for moving the guard to operative position in front of the bottle holder in the machine upon the downward movement of the plunger, and a motion multiplying lever connection be tween the plunger, the spring and the guard for moving the latter to inoperative position at one side of and beyond the machine upon the ascent of said plunger, said guard moving in an are approximately 90 degrees with a limited travel of the plunger, and means contacting with the frame of the machine to arrest the movement of the guard to operative position.

11. The combination with a plunger of a bottle capping machine, of a guard: pivotally mounted on the machine at one side of the bottle holder of said machine for movement edgewise, a motion multiplying lever connected to said guard, a spring connected to said lever for moving the guard in the are of a circle from a position beyond the machine to a position in front of the bottle holder, and a connection between said lever and said plunger to return said guard to its inoperative position, said connection being loose so that upon the downward movement of the plunger the spring is free to move the guard through the motion multiplying lever.

12. The combination with the plunger of a bottle capping machine, of a guard pivotally mounted on the machine at one side of the bottle holder of said machine for movement edgewise, a motion multiplying lever connected to said guard, a spring connected to said lever for moving the guard in the arc of a circle from a position beyond the machine to a position in front of the bottle holder, a bracket connected to the plunger, a rod connected to the motion multiplying lever and passed through the bracket, and a nut adjustable on the rod, whereby upon the downward movement of the plunger the bracket slides on the rod and the spring through the motion multiplying lever moves the guard to operative position, and upon the upward movement of the plunger, the guard is returned to its inoperative position.

13. The combination with the plunger of a bottle capping machine, of a guard pivotally mounted on the machine at one side of the bottle holder of said machine for movement edgewise, a motion multiplying lever connected to said guard, a spring connected to said lever for moving the guard in the arc of a circle from a position beyond the machine to a position in front of the bottle A In testimony that I claim the foregoing holder, and a rod connected to the motion as my own I have hereto afiixed my signa- 1C multiplying lever 1and having a loose C01I11- ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

neotion with the p un er, which ermits t e plunger to work down vvardly Without afleot- FRED COOPER ing said connection so as to allow the spring Witnesses:

to move the guard through the motion mul- WILEY WALKER,

tiplying lever to its operative position. E. A. MOSELEY.

oopiea mt this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by acmreasilng the @ommteetoner or Watentm Washington, D. W 

